By Akpovoke Otiti
It must be said without mincing words: a democracy without a sound, fearless opposition is a democracy in name only. What we are witnessing in Nigeria today is not democratic progress but the gradual erosion of the very principles that sustain a free society. The space for dissent is shrinking, and those meant to speak truth to power have chosen silence, compromise, or outright defection.
Instead of holding the government accountable, opposition figures are shamelessly crossing over to the ruling camp, driven by fear of the EFCC or the lure of personal protection. Political ambition and self-preservation have taken precedence over courage and duty. In the process, the Nigerian people, whose interests these politicians were elected to defend, are left abandoned in a worsening state of governance.
The days when leaders were guided by principle, integrity, and conviction are fast becoming distant memories. What we see now is a crop of political actors willing to eat their own vomit, embrace those they once condemned, and even brag about it in broad daylight. The moral fabric of the nation’s leadership has been shredded, replaced by opportunism and shameless survival politics.
As a result, Nigeria, once proudly hailed as the ‘Giant of Africa’, has been reduced to a mere shadow of itself. A Lilliputian nation ruled by sycophancy, cowardice, and the absence of credible opposition. The consequences are dire: bad governance thrives when there’s no one bold enough to challenge it, and the people continue to suffer in silence.
This is not how democracy is meant to function. A government without effective checks and balances degenerates into tyranny, and a nation without brave voices to counter power is doomed to fail its people. The health of a democracy is measured by the strength and independence of its opposition, and right now, Nigeria’s democracy is on life support.
History has a way of remembering both the heroes who spoke up and the cowards who chose complicity. This moment demands courage, principle, and sacrifice. Nigeria deserves leaders who will rise to defend its future, not those who will sell it off for personal gain.
